Soap actress May-Alice Culhane is paralyzed from the waist down in an accident. She returns to her old home in Louisiana, where she befriends her nurse Chantelle, whose stubbornness matches her own. [imdb]Nominated for 2 Oscars:
Best Actress: Mary McDonnell
Best Original Screenplay
I've watched the film again for the other blog, where I'll soon discuss Mary's performance. The film itself is not bad, it has a Hallmark touch, but if so - it is more intelligent that the average. The film starts as being May-Alice's battle with her paralysis, but ends up as a film about an unusual friendship between two ex-addicts.
The performances are quite good. Actually, I didn't remember Alfre Woodard giving such a rich, emotional supporting performance. I think she was the runner-up for an Oscar nomination. Unfortunately, she didn't get it. Mary is good, very good, but the screenplay & character don't give her the opportunity to be excellent. However, in a pretty weak year like '92 was, it's a worthy nomination. Same with Best Original Screenplay - weak category, but it deserved the nomination.
My rating for the film: 7/10. Today they'd send this type of film straight to tv. It's good, but vanilla.
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I love the Anal Probe monologue.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite speeches from the 90's, completely nails what it's like to be a bit part in a film.
yes, it's a great speech; but on it's own. I'm not sure that it brings that much to the film; it really does seem a bit out of place. However, I can understand Sayles writing need to make (an almost breaking-the-4th-wall) comment.
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